Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
39% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $13,241 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 29°F
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rockford
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($114,100 vs $270,700)
Rent averages $399/mo less ($906 vs $1,305)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Dallas by $13,241/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Income
$13,241
$63,985 vs $50,744/yr
Dallas
Violent Crime
39% lower
658.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Dallas
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.0% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$157k less
$114,100 vs $270,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 12 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 12 and Rockford wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Dallas to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $114,100 median home), income ($63,985 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Rockford, IL are about 778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.